Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announce they're quitting Strictly in joint statement

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly have announced they're quitting Strictly Come Dancing in a joint statement.

The stars have been presenting the popular BBC show together for over a decade, with Daly having fronted it since it began, 21 years ago, with the late Sir Bruce Forsyth.

Winkleman, meanwhile, joined as a co-host in 2014.

With just less than two months of this year's series to go, the presenters have assured fans they won't be leaving until it's come to an end before passing on the 'very sparkly baton' for next year.

Having shared a video on Instagram this morning (23 October), Daly and Winkleman said in a joint statement: "We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream.

"We were always going to leave together, and now feels like the right time."

It continues: "We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show. They’re the most brilliant team and we’ll miss them every day.

"We will cry when we say the last 'keep dancing' but we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza. Tess & Claud."

Both stars also released separate statements as they broke the news, with Traitors icon Winkleman adding: "It’s very difficult to put into words exactly what Strictly has meant to me. It’s been the greatest relationship of my career. From working on It Takes Two in 2004 until now it has been my everything, the show I will be eternally grateful for.

"I will never forget Len Goodman trying to teach me what a cucaracha is (I still don’t know) and the complete thrill and honour it was to work with Tess on the results show to co-hosting on Saturday nights."

The pair said there had been 'some rumblings' and wanted fans to hear it from them. (Claudiawinkle/Instagram)

Believing it's 'always best to leave a party before you're fully ready to go', Winkleman knows the new hosts will be 'magnificent' and looks forward to them taking the show to 'new heights'.

In a lengthy statement, Daly described Strictly as her 'third child' and a 'huge part' of her life since the first show in 2004. She gave thanks to the 'hardest-working team in television' as well as to the viewers for being the 'heart of this show'.

Tess fronted the show from the start with the late Sir Bruce Forsyth. (BBC)

"To my beloved Claud - what an absolute joy and pleasure it has been sharing this adventure with you. You're one of a kind, and I'll treasure every giggle, every live show, and every backstage moment we've shared. I'm so grateful to have you as my friend for life," she wrote.

"This isn't a goodbye to glitter, sequins, or Saturday night sparkle (I could never say goodbye to those!). Strictly will forever hold a special place in my heart - but it does feel like the right time to hand over the reins."